TOKYO, Japan — Hampered by injury setbacks and clearly far off his best, Jamaican quarter-miler Antonio Watson was left bitterly disappointed after a the tame surrender of the 400m title he won at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, two years ago.

Watson shocked the world in 2023 when he emerged with a 44.24 seconds clocking to take the gold medal and become only the second Jamaican to top the men’s 400m field at the World Championships after Bert Cameron at the inaugural staging in 1983.

However, Watson, the World Under-18 champion in 2017 was far from his best inside the Japan National Stadium on Sunday, barely seeming to get out of first gear, struggling to an eighth-place finish in 46.23 seconds.

“I’m very disappointed. I am in the best shape of my life but as we know, track and field comes with obstacles and I hit a roadblock in the past few days,” Watson shared shortly after stepping off the track.

“I am not sure what really happened, I can’t disclose anything further … it’s physical,” he added.

Since winning gold in 2023, Watson has barely featured, appearing in only seven races the following year when he ended his campaign in June after suffering an injury.

His 400m heat on Sunday was his 10th of the 2025 season, meaning he has only run in 17 races since claiming the gold medal in 2023.

He vows to fight beyond the disappointment and setbacks and assured that mentally, he is in a very good place.

“For those who might think that something is wrong with me mentally, that’s not the case. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am one of the strongest guys. Sometimes as athletes things do happen and it’s all about how we bounce back and I was bouncing back just fine. We were looking so good in training and stuff, but training doesn’t count if you can’t come out here and deliver, and I did not deliver today even though that was due to certain circumstances. I won’t blame it on that,” said Watson.

Watson, 23, revealed that his buildup to the championships was marked by serious setbacks that at one point left him wondering if he would even be able to compete.

“I am actually happy that I could come out here and run. A month and two weeks ago I actually couldn’t walk properly, so coming out here and finishing this race, I feel very proud of myself. But knowing my quality, I am a bit disappointed with this one, but I have to move on,” he said.

Despite the frustration, the Jamaican has not given up on leaving Tokyo with success and is hopeful of contributing to Jamaica’s push in the men’s 4x400m relay.

“It’s possible for me to come back in the 4x400m. I have good guys working with, so I have to just go back, come back, work with them and see what it is from there,” Watson shared.

His reign as world champion may have ended quietly, but Watson is adamant that he will not allow injuries and setbacks to define his career.

“I don’t really like to talk about what happened in the past. A lot of people like to say that I find excuses when I am not healthy, but it wasn’t a healthy last two seasons with a lot of obstacles, a lot of injuries and stuff like that. But it’s a part of the sport, so I have to come back and work harder,” Watson noted.

For the former Petersfield High standout, the night was a reminder of the unforgiving nature of elite athletics. His gold medal in Budapest had underlined his potential, but Watson knows that sustaining success at the top level demands both consistency and good health.

As he shifts his attention to the relay and beyond, the young Jamaican is determined to draw strength from his latest setback, confident that he can once again climb back onto the podium.

Antonio Watson participates in the men’s 400m event at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, on Monday. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)